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| Tuesday, 18 January 2005 |
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by Shirajiv Sirimane Sri Lanka has a very capable government and the health system is very strong, said visiting US Deputy Secretary of Defence, Paul Wolfowitz. He said the tsunami crisis has proved that Sri Lanka is a very capable country and has responded very well during the crisis. He met President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga last morning. "She is very intelligent and graceful." The US Deputy Secretary said that the government and the people have positively responded during the tsunami crisis. "Sri Lanka is now in the recovery stages and a great deal of effort has gone in to it. Sri Lanka is now moving very rapidly in reconstruction," he said. Wolfowitz who toured the tsunami affected Galle last morning, said the LTTE is responding positively and this is a good sign for the country. There have been moves by the LTTE in the positive direction. "The LTTE is now cooperating in relief efforts as well," he said. He said unlike in the conflict in Indonesia, the Sri Lankan scenario has been more violent. "When one analyses the tsunami crisis one would have felt that people have been fighting for trivial things." The attitude of the marines too is very positive and they are committed to their rebuilding work in the South. The marines are also happy with the response they are receiving. "There are over 700 US marines and engineers in Sri Lanka and they would be in Sri Lanka until they are needed," he said. "I asked some children in a school which is being re-built by the US marines as to what they think on the presence of the US marines and the smiles I received showed that they were very happy." He said that US first had their experience of disaster management after September 11, 2001 and learnt many lessons from it. |
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